What does skeet mean?
Skeet is chiefly the name of a North American shooting sport in which participants use shotguns to hit clay pigeon targets launched into the air. Targets pass through an elevated trap, allowing shooters to select which ones they will call for and strike. Although “skeet” most commonly names the sport as a whole, it can also refer to an individual target. In conversation, the word usually appears in sports contexts such as skeet shooting, a skeet field, or a skeet gun. Its vocabulary is practical and broadly neutral, carrying no stronger connotations than the associated equipment and competition. Skeet is one of several forms of clay-target shooting, but it has a particularly well-established identity in the United States and Canada. The word is also unusual because its ultimate origin remains uncertain: it was clearly in use by the 18th century, yet its precise derivation has never been securely established.
nounSkeet is a clay-target shooting sport in which competitors shoot at clay pigeon targets launched into the air. The word can also denote an individual clay target used in the sport.
- The sport of shooting at clay pigeon targets launched into the air.
- An individual clay target launched to be shot at.
"They spent the afternoon at the skeet field, taking turns calling for the clay targets."
"He has competed in skeet at regional competitions for more than a decade."
"The shooter called for the skeet and fired as it crossed the field."
The plural is used mainly for individual clay targets and is uncommon when referring to the sport as a whole.
"A dozen skeets remained stacked beside the trap."
The word's origins remain mysterious: “skeet” was in use by the 18th century, but lexicographers have not securely traced where it came from.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skeet come from?
The noun skeet is attested in English by the 18th century in connection with shooting at clay targets. Its precise origin is uncertain, and no widely accepted group of cognates can confidently be identified. In modern English, its dominant use is for the sport, while the sense referring to an individual clay target remains established.
How skeet is actually used
As the name of the sport, skeet is chiefly North American; British speakers more commonly use the broader term clay pigeon shooting. When referring to individual targets, the word is countable and commonly used in the plural.
Easily confused with skeet
Skeet is a clay-target shooting sport, whereas sleet is precipitation consisting of rain or water droplets that freeze near the ground.